The Say Award announce Live Showcase line up for 2020 award ceremony
The Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) Award today announce an incredible line-up of emerging artists set to perform at this year’s online award ceremony.
Article Source: Material
Last Updated: 16 October 2020 13:58
THE SAY AWARD ANNOUNCE LIVE SHOWCASE LINE-UP FOR 2020 AWARD CEREMONY, INCLUDING HAPPY SPENDY, KAPIL SESHASAYEE, VLURE AND ZOE GRAHAM
WINNER OF £20,000 PRIZE AND COVETED TITLE WILL BE ANNOUNCED VIA DIGITAL BROADCAST ON 29TH OCTOBER
The Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) Award today announce an incredible line-up of emerging artists set to perform at this year’s online award ceremony. Filmed at Edinburgh’s Summerhall, the four acts chosen to perform are Happy Spendy, Kapil Seshasayee, Vlure and Zoe Graham.
The SAY Award ceremony traditionally provides a showcasing opportunity for some of Scotland’s most exciting emerging artists. The artists chosen to showcase usually perform to an invited audience of over 800 guests, made up of artists, industry professionals and press and media from across the UK. This year, broadcasting as a YouTube Premiere from 7pm on 29th October, fans from across the world are invited to tune in to discover their new favourite act, as well as find out who will collect one of the most lucrative prize funds in the UK as the Scottish Album of the Year winner is announced, collecting £20,000 along with the coveted title.
Ensure you don’t miss The SAY Award ceremony by subscribing to The SAY Award YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/SAYaward
With this year’s SAY Award campaign going digital for the first time ever due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, fans around the world now have the chance to be front-row at the traditionally industry-only exclusive final award ceremony, broadcasting as a YouTube Premiere. Set to be an outstanding celebration of the country’s flourishing and diverse music scene, Glasgow based synth-pop purveyors of feelgood sad songs Happy Spendy will perform on the night, having released their brand new compilation album ‘You’re Doing Okay’ in June this year, which received support from the likes of BBC Radio 6 Music and BBC Radio Scotland. They will be joined by songwriter and soundsmith Kapil Seshasayee who combines electronica flourishes with Indian Classical guitar, stunning vocals and unorthodox instrumentation to create some of Scotland’s most exciting new sounds, hailed by the likes of VICE and Pitchfork. Glasgow five-piece VLURE also join the line-up, with synth laden hooks and club influenced rhythm twisting around emotionally confronting lyrics, the band create an intense, life affirming live show which will be extremely welcome in a year sorely missing live performances. Singer-songwriter Zoe Graham completes The SAY Award ceremony line-up, perfecting her knack for refining universal emotions into electronic pop and having just released her new EP ‘Gradual Move’ last month, Zoe is a true star on the rise.
One artist and their album will then be crowned the Scottish Album of the Year, in turn collecting £20,000 – one of the most lucrative prize funds in the UK – and a bespoke physical award, created by Glasgow based designer and architect Rekha Barry.
The 2020 Judging Panel, who will decide the ultimate winner of the award, is chaired by John Williamson and includes: Ally McCrae (Producer, BBC), Charlotte Dryden (CEO, NI Music Prize), Dirk Löwenberg (Head of Member Services, GVL), Edith Bowman (Broadcaster), Fay Milton (Founder of SAY Award charity partner, Music Declares Emergency), Jack Saunders (BBC Radio 1 Presenter), Jess Brough (Founder/Director of Fringe of Colour), Kieran Hurley (Playwright), Maurits Westerik (Director, Best Kept Secret Festival), Solène Lorry (Head of Label & Artist Relations (France), YouTube), Wezi Mhura (Creative Producer & Founder of AfriFest & BLM Mural Trail).
This year’s Shortlist of ten includes a record-breaking eight debut albums; a first in the history of the award. The 10 Shortlisted albums in the running for the Scottish Album of the Year Award title are:
The SAY Award Shortlist for 2020:
Blanck Mass Animated Violence Mild
Bossy Love Me + U
Callum Easter Here Or Nowhere
Cloth Cloth
Comfort Not Passing
Declan Welsh & The Decadent West Cheaply Bought, Expensively Sold
Erland Cooper Sule Skerry
The Ninth Wave Infancy
NOVA RE-UP
SHHE SHHE
2020’s Shortlist provides a snapshot of the strength and diversity of Scotland’s music scene, spanning a range of genres and styles to celebrate the country’s most outstanding albums, and the incredible network of people who created them. Each Shortlisted album has won a guaranteed minimum prize of £1,000, and will receive an exclusively designed art prize.
In a special one off series to celebrate the Shortlist, The SAY Award have teamed up with Tim Burgess’ Twitter Listening Parties to bring music fans together to discover their new favourite Scottish album each evening from 26th - 28th October, prior to the winner announcement on Thursday 29th October. Timings for The SAY Award special #TimsTwitterListeningParty can be found on timstwitterlisteningparty.com
For 2020’s SAY Award, a record-breaking 362 eligible album submissions were narrowed down to the 20-strong Longlist by 100 impartial nominators; representing a variety of genres including jazz, classical, hip-hop, pop, trad folk, rock, electronic, indie and many more. The Longlist has now been whittled down to a Shortlist of just 10 albums, with the final winner chosen by the esteemed Judging Panel.
Developed and produced by the Scottish Music Industry Association (SMIA), the 2020 campaign is delivered in partnership with Creative Scotland, City of Edinburgh Council, YouTube Music, 54EP, Sweetdram, Culture & Business Fund Scotland via Arts & Business Scotland, PPL, Summerhall, Ticketmaster and new charity partner Music Declares Emergency.
Previous winners of The SAY Award include Auntie Flo ‘Radio Highlife’ (2019), Young Fathers ‘Cocoa Sugar’ (2018), Sacred Paws ‘Strike A Match’ (2017), Anna Meredith ‘Varmints’ (2016), Kathryn Joseph ‘Bones You Have Thrown Me And Blood I’ve Spilled’ (2015), Young Fathers ‘Tape Two’ (2014), RM Hubbert ‘Thirteen Lost & Found’ (2013) and the inaugural winner Bill Wells and Aidan Moffat ‘Everything’s Getting Older’ (2012).
To keep up with The SAY Award 2020 journey, make sure you follow the award on Twitter @SAYaward, Instagram @sayaward and Facebook @SAYaward
Sponsored Links
Latest Edinburgh News
Edinburgh International Book Festival makes 60 new flagship events available worldwide
Edinburgh International Book Festival is releasing 60 more events from its August 2025 programme for global audiences this week on a Donate What You Can basis.
READ MORE
Heroes call on Scottish rugby fans to vote for the greatest Murrayfield rugby moment
SCOTTISH rugby fans have been called upon to cast their vote for the greatest ever Murrayfield rugby moment as part of celebrations marking the national stadium’s centenary.
READ MORE
Make a difference to East Lothian during Trustees Week
Volunteer Centre East Lothian urges people to lend their support to local charities by becoming a trustee.
READ MORE
The Christmas tradition of the year is back...
Scotland's biggest Christmas drive-in returns: 11 days of Elf, Home Alone & more at Loch Lomond Shores!
READ MORE
Customers queue for 18 hours at Popeyes Fort Kinnaird
Today, Popeyes® UK, home of the famous Louisiana Chicken, opened its Fort Kinnaird restaurant in Newcraighall, with over 100 people in the queue for launch day.
READ MORE
Midlothian primary school set to celebrate centenary with a week of music and memories
Exactly 100 years since Newtongrange Primary School first opened its doors, teachers and pupils are set to celebrate its centenary in style.
READ MORE
National Roadshow to Shine a Spotlight on Edinburgh Small Businesses
Edinburgh’s small businesses are set to take centre stage this week as the Small Business Saturday nationwide roadshow rolls into town on Wednesday, 5th November.
READ MORE
St Andrews Day ticket offer for Castle of Light
Edinburgh Castle ignites excitement for Castle of Light: Fire and Ice with special St Andrew’s Day ticket offer.
READ MORE
Shuttle Bus Route Launched at Lost Shore Surf Resort
Lost Shore Surf Resort is teaming up with Scottish sustainable travel pioneer Ember to launch a new all-electric shuttle bus service from Edinburgh City Centre to the resort.
READ MORE
Michelin success for top new restaurant of the year in Edinburgh
Barry Fish, one of Edinburgh’s most celebrated new restaurants of 2025, has earned its place in the prestigious Michelin Guide for Great Britain and Ireland, just 8 months after its launch.
READ MORE
Deer Park Golf and Country Club Tees Up Championship Quality Golf All Year Round
Deer Park is offering golfers the chance to enjoy superb playing conditions 365 days a year, ensuring the course remains in peak form, whatever the weather.
READ MORE
National Galleries of Scotland celebrates Halloween by sharing rare images from Egyptian Book of the Dead
This Halloween National Galleries of Scotland is diving into the special books collection to share the rare work 'Le Livre des morts des Anciens Egyptiens' by Anton Prinner.
READ MORE
Santa Opens a Brand New North Pole HQ at Conifox
Edinburgh’s Ultimate Christmas Experience Arrives in a Spectacular New Purpose-Built Building at Conifox Adventure Park.
READ MORE
Final call for Edinburgh walkers to join autumn challenge
THE FINAL countdown to Walking Scotland’s Autumn Step Count Challenge has begun, with teams across the country being urged to register before the event starts on Monday, 3 November 2025.
READ MORE
Sail into the festive season with five star luxury floating hotel Fingal
Scotland’s only five-star luxury floating hotel, Fingal, is adding some festive magic to its guest experiences this Christmas and Hogmanay.
READ MORE
First Bus gives Remembrance free travel for all Armed Forces, veterans and cadets
First Bus is offering free travel for all veterans and UK Armed Forces personnel travelling to Remembrance Day activities of Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day.
READ MORE
Scotland Meats Germany
Scotland's favourite beer, Tennent's Lager, has unveiled the world's first ever Square Wurst - a Scottish classic with a German twist - to mark the launch of Tennent's Bavarian Pilsner.
READ MORE
Palm Court at The Balmoral unveils new Elevenses menu
Palm Court at The Balmoral has launched a new ‘Elevenses’ menu, showcasing the pastry team’s viennoiserie skills.
READ MORE
Vault City launches blood red strawberry sour beer for Halloween season
A POPULAR Halloween treat is being reimagined for grown-ups this year, as Edinburgh’s wizards of sour beer unveil their latest spooky special.
READ MORE
Scottish Ensemble brings warmth to wintry nights with Concerts by Candlelight tour
Concert by Candlelight, Scottish Ensemble's celebrated long-running winter tour, returns for eight awe-inspiring performances in intimate settings around Scotland this December.
READ MORE
Feel the festive cheer at Dobbies Charity Christmas Shopping Night
Dobbies is encouraging customers to come along to their nearest store and to be the first to shop exclusive Black Friday offers at its late-night shopping event, in aid of Alzheimer's Research UK.
READ MORE
Red Hot Chilli Pipers announced to headline Ross Bandstand programme
With just under three weeks left until Edinburgh’s Christmas events and attractions open to Edinburgh residents and visitors, the full Ross Bandstand programme is unveiled today.
READ MORE
Autumn Offers at Marine & Lawn Hotels & Resorts Collection
Marine & Lawn Hotels & Resorts Collection have launched new offerings designed to inspire cosy autumn getaways and early festive escapes across Scotland.
READ MORE
Mowgli Street Food unveils its Christmas feasting menus
Mowgli Street Food restaurants have launched their special Christmas menus - a vibrant celebration of Indian home-style cooking, made for sharing.
READ MORE
50 Scottish entrepreneurs gather in Edinburgh for National Mentoring Day
More than 50 entrepreneurs from across Scotland gathered in Edinburgh this week for Edinburgh Mentor Match - a free business speed mentoring session run by Virgin StartUp.
READ MORE
OMNi teams up with local school and partners for Creative Milestone Initiative
Edinburgh’s OMNi Centre has teamed up with Scottish artist Helen Denerley and Edinburgh Zoo to deliver a primary school design project for the Dreaming Spires sculpture’s 20th anniversary.
READ MORE
The Scottish Excellence Awards are open for entries
Nominations are open for the highly anticipated Scottish Excellence Awards 2026, a celebration of Scotland's hospitality, foodservice and tourism sectors.
READ MORE
Halloween Events Round Up for Edinburgh Restaurants
Take a look at some of the Halloween events taking place in Edinburgh Restaurants this week!
READ MORE
Sterling Home brings festive cheer with heartfelt Christmas donation
Leading furniture retailer Sterling Home is lighting up the festive season with a generous donation of Christmas decorations and furniture to children’s hospices and hospitals across Scotland.
READ MORE
Dobbies Garden Centres hosts free to attend winter gardening workshop for kids
Dobbies is hosting a free-to-attend monthly gardening workshop on Sunday 2 November, for children across the country to discover how they can encourage winter birds into the garden.
READ MORESponsored Links
Sponsored Links